Are you suggesting that I'm BPD and not BP2? I was sent by my first therapist to a psychiatric institute for testing for BPD and was at that time diagnosed with BP2 instead. I did *several* written tests which took hours and a verbal interview with a pdoc. Before I was originally put on my first mood stabilizer, Depakote, I was rapid-cycling at least 30 times a day. Now my rapid cycling can change every few hours, days or sometimes longer although rarely. I don't very often have a hypomanic episode. Depression is what I normally experience and when my cycle changes, the depression goes to the depths of the abyss leaving me in a very suicidal state. I'm getting very tired and scared of getting like that I want desperately to avoid it if at all possible. If you've read this entire thread, and I'm assuming you did, then you already know I'm on ADs but I don't think they are helping me like they used to. My Effexor XR used to be much higher than it is now but was lowered due to side effects. My pdoc refuses to increase it again fearing it will trigger a hypomanic episode, which seems to be her main concern IMHO. I can't seem to get through to her how very dangerous my depressive cycles can be and I feel she is playing Russian Roulette with my life. I understand her reasoning for not wanting to increase my ADs but I wasn't triggered before so I don't think I would be if she increased it again back to where it was and see if I can tolerate the side effects. I am in therapy and starting a new group therapy for cognitive therapy. I just finished a group therapy just prior to Christmas for Bi-Polar. So, I'm not just looking at this from a meds point a view and expecting them to be the be all and end all of my rapid cycling. I'm not sure why you are giving me info on BPD unless you are suggesting that I have been wrongly diagnosed. As I said, I've gone through extensive testing to be diagnosed with Bi-Polar 2, PTSD, Anxiety and SAD. Could you please clarify your reasoning for the info you provided and what your opinions are on increasing my ADs.